Niger Police intercept two trailer-loads of almajiris

MINNA â€”THE Niger state Police command has intercepted two trailer loads of child beggars known as almajiris in the northern part of the country, who were ferried to Minna, the state capital for yet undisclosed mission.
The almajiris numbering up to 100 with some malams believed to be their leaders were intercepted at the ChanchagaÂ end of Minna, the state capital as the first batch of almajiris were about to be â€œoffloadedâ€ at the â€œAllah Deyâ€ junction of the town at about 6 a.m, Wednesday.

The take-off point of the almajiris and their leaders was not immediately known, neither could a conclusion be drawn on their actual mission to the state.

Our correspondent gathered that just as the lorry-loads of children passed through the Chanchaga police post, the police, out of curiosity, dispatched some men to trail the vehicles which later yielded a positive result.
Our correspondent learnt that just as the first batch of the boys were being â€œoff loaded,â€ they were arrested while the vehicles were also intercepted on the spot and the occupants interrogated.
Unsatisfied with the answers, the trucks and their occupants were immediately led to the state Police Command Headquarters for further interrogation.

The state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Michael Zuokumor, when contacted confirmed the development and assured that thorough investigation would be carried out on them.

According to him, â€œwhat we are mostly interested in for now is their take-off point, their final destination and their mission in the state before we know our next line of action.

â€œWe are aware of freedom of residing in any part of the country of your choice without any hindrance but still, we should also be mindful of any suspicious movement that could lead to a break down of law and order in any part of the country and that is why we are being proactive,â€ the police boss said.